Deadpool set to break records for R-rated release

22 February 2016

Ryan Reynolds' superhero movie Deadpool achieved the biggest box office debut for an R-rated movie last week after pulling in $132 in the US. The current top R-rated film in the US is Mel Gibson's 2004 movie, The Passion Of The Christ which grossed $370m.

Watch Ryan Reynolds discuss the movie in our Sony Movie News.

The movie, directed by Tim Miller has proved popular in Russia where it recently broke Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ all-time box office opening record, and South Korea, where it was seen by more than one million people this weekend. But the movie's sex scenes and foul language have meant bans for the movie in China and India.

Animated sequel Kung Fu Panda 3 held second place with $12.5m in its fourth week on release, for a total of $177m.While new faith-based drama, Risen, landed in third place taking $11.8m at the box office. The movie stars Joseph Fiennes as a Roman soldier charged with investigating rumours that Jesus as risen from the dead.